Lecture Notes (Session 1-4)

Question 1

Craving Type 1 vs. Craving Type 2

Answer 1

1. Conditioned Positive Reinforcement - environmental cues that have been paired with drug self-administration 2. negative reinforcement - liking progressively decreases and protracted abstinence in drug-dependent individuals, drugs become pathologically wanted, characterized by anxiety

Question 2

Psychoactive substances (5)

Answer 2

1. cross blood-brain barrier 2. change neurochemistry of brain 3. alters consciousness and behavior 4. rapid neurochemical shifts for intoxicating and non-intoxicating substances 5. rapid onset and intensity of effects increases the potential for abuses

Question 3

The brain’s pleasure reward system (aka Addiction Centers on the Brain)

Answer 3

NA (nucleus accumbens) + VTA (ventral tegmental area) + Limbic System = ADDICTED BRAIN….reward pathway activation, limbic system activation followed by repetition

Question 4

What is Dopamine?

Answer 4

Neurotramsmitter of addition. Addictive drugs provide a shortcut to the brain’s reward system by flooding the NA and VTA with dopamine

Question 5

What is the Limbic system made up of?

Answer 5

Amygdala and hippocampus

Question 6

3 Neurotransmitters responsible for addiction

Answer 6

1. dopamine (pleasure and reward chemical) 2. epinephrine (readiness-response chemical) 3. serotonin (mood-regulating chemical)

Question 7

Within system neuroadaptation

Answer 7

imbalances in any one or all of these neurotransmitters create a need to restore HOMEOSTASIS thus—craving for substance > substance use > cycle of addiction

Question 8

Between system neuroadaptation

Answer 8

stress reinforces cycle of addiction (HPA axis)

Question 9

Addictive Disease Progression (3 stages)

Answer 9

1. Early stage - growing tolerance and dependency 2. middle stage - progressive loss of control (not using begins to create pain) 3. chronic stage - biopsychosocial deterioration (physical, psychological, behavioral, social, and spiritual)

Question 10

Addiction Cycle (6)

Answer 10

1. short-term gratification 2. long-term pain 3. addictive thinking 4. increased tolerance 5. loss of control 6. biopsychosocial damage

Question 11

Risk Factors vs. Positive Factors

Answer 11

Risk - early aggressive behav, poor social skills, lack of parental superv, substance abuse, drug avail, poverty. Protective - self-control, positive relationships, parent monitoring/support, academic competence, school anti-drug use policies, strong neighborhood attachment

Question 12

Define Neurotransmitters

Answer 12

Chemicals that alter the frequency and intensity of the messages being sent between neurons, the greater the amount of neurotransmitters, the stronger the message

Question 13

Neuromodulators

Answer 13

allow for more or less information to be processed by neurons (like a filter)

Question 14

How do drugs interfere with the brain?

Answer 14

1. interfere with the way neurons send, receive, and process information 2. marijiana, heroin activate neurons because of similar chemical structure 3. cocaine/stimulants cause neurons to release large amounts of neurotransmitters or prevent reuptake

Question 15

Substance Absorption Terms

Answer 15

threshold dose—time-response relationship 1. the latency of onset 2. the time to peak effect 3. duration of action—dose-relationship - individual differences include 1. age 2. weight 3. sex—Tolerance characteristics- physical, behavioral, cross, reverse

Question 16

DSM-IV Progressive Symptom Model (7)

Answer 16

1. increased tolerance 2. withdrawal 3. self medication of withdrawal 4. loss of control over quantity, over duration, over frequency 5. increased time spent preparing, using or recovering from effects 6. neglect of life responsibilities, life activities 7. alcohol/drug related problems, continued use in spite of problems

Question 17

Process Addictions (7)

Answer 17

1. gambling 2. shopping 3. sex 4. work 5. exercise 6. eating disorders